Protective cover assembly

ABSTRACT

A protective cover assembly is provided. The protective cover assembly includes a flexible cover and an alarm assembly. The flexible cover includes an outer layer of flexible material, an inner layer of flexible material, and at least one layer of tear resistant material positioned between the outer and inner layers. The alarm assembly includes a pair of conductor plates positioned between the outer layer of flexible material and the inner layer of flexible material, a power source, and an alarm system electrically connected to the power source and at least one of the first and second conductor plates such that upon an electrical conducting implement piercing the first conductor plate and contacting the second conductor plate an electrical connection is established between the first conductor plate and the second conductor plate thereby causing the alarm system to emit an alerting signal.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/624,587, filedJul. 22, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/843,416,filed Apr. 26, 2001, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Ser.No. 60/201,141, filed May 2, 2000, each of which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to protective covers, and moreparticularly, but not by way of limitation, to a penetration and tearresistant protective cover assembly with an alarm system incorporatedtherein.

2. Brief Description of Related Art

Convertible cars, pick up truck beds, motorcycles, boats, all terrainvehicles, wet bikes, lawn tractors and other vehicles of all sorts areeasy prey to vandals and thieves. Soft covers designed for such vehiclescan be quickly and easily cut with a knife or other sharp object therebyallowing unauthorized entry into the vehicle. Perimeter alarm systemshave been utilized in an attempt to protect such vehicles, but evenperimeter alarm systems do not offer sufficient deterrence to discouragevandals and thieves. In addition, perimeter alarm systems tend to beerratic in dependability and performance, are often set off by windgusts, accidental bumping or heavy vibrations, and are susceptible tobeing rendered inoperable by disconnection of the power supply or bypower supply malfunction.

To this end, a need exists for a protective cover assembly that is tearresistant to prevent unauthorized entry through a soft cover and capableof signaling an attempt of an unauthorized entry. It is to such aprotective cover assembly that the present invention is directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a protective cover assembly whichis particularly well suited for use as a convertible top. The protectivecover assembly includes a flexible cover and an alarm assembly. Theflexible cover includes an outer layer of flexible material, an innerlayer of flexible material, and at least one layer of tear resistantmaterial interposed between the outer and inner layers. The alarmassembly includes a pair of conductor plates interposed between theouter layer of flexible material and the inner layer of flexiblematerial, a power source, and an alarm system electrically connected tothe power source and at least one of the first and second conductorplates such that upon an electrical conducting implement piercing thefirst conductor plate and contacting the second conductor plate anelectrical connection is established between the first conductor plateand the second conductor plate thereby causing the alarm system to emitan alerting signal.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description and drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partially cut away, perspective view of a protective coverassembly constructed in accordance with the present invention shownbeing used as a convertible car top.

FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway, perspective view of the protective coverassembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit utilized in thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of another version of an electricalcircuit which can be utilized in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial cutaway, prospective view of another embodiment of aprotective cover assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-3, showntherein is a protective cover assembly 10 constructed in accordance withthe present invention. The protective cover assembly 10 includes a tearresistant cover 12 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and an alarm assembly 14 (FIG. 3).The protective cover assembly 10 is particularly well suited for used asa convertible car top, as shown in FIG. 1. The protective cover assembly10 is shown mounted to an articulating frame 15 of a convertible vehicle16 in a conventional manner. It will be appreciated that articulatingframes are well known in the art. Thus, no further description of theircomponents, construction, or operation is believed necessary for oneskilled in the art to understand and implement the protective coverassembly 10 of the present invention.

The tear resistant cover 12 is shown in FIG. 2 to include an outer layerof material 17 and an inner layer of material 18. The outer and innerlayers of material 17 and 18 may be fabricated from any flexiblematerial ordinarily utilized in the construction of conventionalconvertible car tops, such as vinyl and canvas, so that the tearresistant cover 12 has the appearance of a conventional convertible top.

The tear resistant cover 12 further includes at least one layer offlexible, tear resistant material interposed between the outer layer ofmaterial 17 and the inner layer of material 18. The flexible, tearresistant material can be fabricated from any flexible, lightweightmaterial having a high tensile strength and a high cut resistance. Asuitable tear resistant material may be fabricated of a manmade, organicfiber sold under the trademark “KEVLAR” by E. I. Dupont de Nemours &Co., Inc.

More particularly, the tear resistant cover 12 is illustrated in FIG. 2as including a first layer of tear resistant material 20, a second layerof tear resistant material 22, and a third layer of tear resistantmaterial 24. To increase penetration resistance of the tear resistantcover 12, the pattern of fabric weave of the first layer of tearresistant material 20 is preferably rotated approximately ninety degreesrelative to the pattern of fabric weave of the second layer of tearresistant material 22. Likewise, the pattern of fabric weave of thethird layer of tear resistant material 24 is preferably rotatedapproximately ninety degrees relative to the pattern of fabric weave ofthe second layer of tear resistant material 22. It will be appreciatedthat the tear resistant cover 12 may be sized, shaped, formed, adaptedor molded into any configuration necessary to adequately attached to,cover, and protect the desired vehicle or article.

As shown in FIG. 3, the alarm assembly 14 of the protective coverassembly 10 includes a first conductor plate 26, a second conductorplate 28, a power supply 30, and an alarm system 32 which includes analerting signal emitter, such as a speaker 34. The alarm system 32 canbe any conventional alarm system used for automobiles. When theprotective cover assembly 10 is used as a convertible top or anothertype of covering for a vehicle, the power supply 30 can be the vehicle'sbattery or generator or combination thereof.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of an alarm system 36 which issimilar to the alarm assembly 14, except that the alarm system 36 isequipped with a backup power supply 38, such as a 12 volt battery, toprovide an element of redundancy in the event of disconnection ormalfunction of the main power supply 30. It should be noted that thebackup power supply 38 may be located anywhere appropriate within theengine compartment or even within the passenger compartment of thevehicle, thereby making it difficult for a would-be thief or vandal todisable the protective cover assembly 10.

Each of the first and second conductor plates 26 and 28 of the alarmassembly 14 is fabricated of a sheet of flexible, electric conductingmaterial, such as aluminum foil or copper. To increase the durability ofthe first and second conductor plates 26 and 28 to insure that the firstand second conductor plates 26 and 28 are sufficiently durable towithstand repeated folding and unfolding from the opening and closing ofthe convertible top, each of the first and second conductor plates 26and 28 is coated with a protective film. A suitable protective film issold under the trademark “MYLAR” by E. I. Dupont de Nemours & Co., Inc.A suitable material for use as the first and second conductor plates 26and 28 is commercially available from Arlon Engineered Laminates andCoating, 199 Amaral Street, East Providence, R.I.

The first and second conductor plates 26 and 28 are sized, shaped,adapted, formed or molded to substantially correspond to the size andshape of the outer and inner layers of material 17 and 18 and the first,second and third layers of tear resistance material 20, 22 and 24. Thefirst and second conductor plates 26 and 28 are preferably assembledwith one of the first, second, or third sheets of tear resistancematerial 20, 22, and 24 positioned between the first and secondconductor plates 26 and 28 so as to electrically insulate the firstconductor plate 26 from the second conductor plate 28. However, theprotective film of the first and second conductor plates 26 and 28 canbe utilized as an insulator which allows the first and second conductorplates 26 and 28 to be positioned adjacent to each other at low voltagelevels without electrically shorting. It will also be appreciated thatany other suitable insulating material can be used to electricallyinsulate the first conductor plate 26 from the second conductor plate28.

With the first and second conductor plates 26 and 28 incorporated intothe tear resistant cover 12, the first conductor plate 26 iselectrically isolated from ground and electrically connected to thealarm system 32, while the second conductor plate 28 is electricallygrounded. The first and second conductor plates 26 and 28 areelectrically insulated such that upon an electrical conductingimplement, such as a knife or screwdriver, piercing the outer layer ofmaterial 17, the first conductor plate 26, and the first layer of tearresistant material 20, and contacting the second conductor plate 28, anelectrical connection is established between the first conductor plate26 and the second conductor plate 28 thereby causing the alarm system 32to emit an alerting signal via the speaker 34.

Thus, if an unauthorized entry is attempted by cutting the protectivecover assembly 10, the person attempting such entry will discover thatthe protective cover assembly 10 is difficult to penetrate with anysharp object, almost impossible to tear or cut, and the alarm system 32will sound. If the would be thief attempts to disconnect the powersupply 30 in an attempt to disable the alarm assembly 32 it will be tono avail because the protective cover assembly 10 can also include thebackup power supply 38. Furthermore, because the first conductor plate26 is connected to the positive terminal of the power supply 30, if thethief is electrically grounded, the alarm system 32 will emit analerting signal when the implement contacts the first conductor plate 26without the necessity of contacting the second conductor plate 28.

While the protective cover assembly 10 has been described above ashaving two layers of conducting plates 26 and 28 and three layers oftear resistant material 20, 22 and 24 those skilled of the art willreadily recognize that additional layers of tear resistant material canbe removed or added to the protective cover assembly 10 to alter itsresistance to tear. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a sufficientnumber of layers of tear resistant material can be added to make thetear resistant cover 12 substantially bullet resistant. These additionallayers are identified by the reference numeral 40 in FIG. 5. Thoseskilled of the art will also readily recognize that a protective coverassembly can be constructed that includes the tear resistant propertiesdiscussed above, but does not include the alarm assembly 14. Similarly,a protective cover assembly can be constructed that includes the alarmassembly, but which is not tear resistant. Additionally, those skilledin the art will readily recognize that while the protective coverassembly 10 has been described for use as a top for a convertibleautomobile, the protective cover assembly 10 can readily be sized,shaped, adapted into a variety of different sizes and shapes for use asa cover for a variety of different devices, apparatus and appliances,such as, boats, tents, pickup truck beds, door openings, and windowopenings.

From the above description, it is clear that the present invention iswell adapted to carry out the objects and to attain the advantagesmentioned herein as well as those inherent in the invention. While apresently preferred embodiment of the invention has been described forpurposes of this disclosure, it will be readily understood that numerouschanges may be made which will readily suggest themselves to thoseskilled in the art and which are accomplished within the spirit of theinvention disclosed.

1. A cover assembly, comprising: a cover including an outer layer ofmaterial and an inner layer of material; and an alarm assemblycomprising: a first conductor plate positioned between the outer layerof material and the inner layer of material; a second conductor platepositioned between the outer layer of material and the inner layer ofmaterial and electrically insulated from the first conductor plate; apower source; and an alarm system electrically connected to the powersource and at least one of the first conductor plate and the secondconductor plate such that upon an electrical conducting implementpiercing the first conductor plate and contacting the second conductorplate an electrical connection is established between the firstconductor plate and the second conductor plate thereby causing the alarmsystem to emit an alerting signal.
 2. A cover assembly, comprising: aflexible cover including an outer layer of flexible material and aninner layer of flexible material; a first conductor plate fabricated ofa flexible material, the first conductor plate positioned between theouter layer of flexible material and the inner layer of flexiblematerial; and a second conductor plate fabricated of a flexiblematerial, the second conductor plate positioned between the outer layerof flexible material and the inner layer of flexible material andelectrically insulated from the first conductor plate, wherein at leastone of the first conductor plate and the second conductor plate iselectrically connectable to a power source and an alarm system such thatupon an electrical conducting implement piercing the first conductorplate and contacting the second conductor plate an electrical connectionis established between the first conductor plate and the secondconductor plate thereby causing the alarm system to emit an alertingsignal.
 3. A cover assembly for a convertible vehicle, comprising: anarticulating frame; a flexible cover secured to the articulating frame,the flexible cover including an outer layer of flexible material and aninner layer of flexible material; a first conductor plate fabricated ofa flexible material, the first conductor plate positioned between theouter layer of flexible material and the inner layer of flexiblematerial; and a second conductor plate fabricated of a flexiblematerial, the second conductor plate positioned between the outer layerof flexible material and the inner layer of flexible material andelectrically insulated from the first conductor plate wherein at leastone of the first conductor plate and the second conductor plate iselectrically connectable to a power source and an alarm system such thatupon an electrical conducting implement piercing the first conductorplate and contacting the second conductor plate an electrical connectionis established between the first conductor plate and the secondconductor plate thereby causing the alarm system to emit an alertingsignal.
 4. A cover assembly for a vehicle, comprising: a flexible coverincluding an outer layer of flexible material and an inner layer offlexible material; a first conductor plate fabricated of a flexiblematerial, the first conductor plate positioned between the outer layerof flexible material and the inner layer of flexible material; a secondconductor plate fabricated of a flexible material, the second conductorplate positioned between the outer layer of flexible material and theinner layer of flexible material and electrically insulated from thefirst conductor plate; and at least one layer of flexible, tearresistant material positioned between the outer layer of flexiblematerial and the inner layer of flexible material, wherein at least oneof the first conductor plate and the second conductor plate iselectrically connectable to a power source and an alarm system such thatupon an electrical conducting implement piercing the first conductorplate and contacting the second conductor plate an electrical connectionis established between the first conductor plate and the secondconductor plate thereby causing the alarm system to emit an alertingsignal.
 5. The cover assembly of claim 4 further comprising: a pluralityof layers of flexible, tear resistant material positioned between theouter layer of flexible material and the inner layer of flexiblematerial.
 6. The cover assembly of claim 5 wherein each layer offlexible, tear resistant material has a fabric pattern weave and whereinthe fabric pattern weave of each layer of flexible, tear resistantmaterial is oriented approximately ninety degrees relative to anadjacent layer of flexible, tear resistant material.
 7. A cover assemblyfor a convertible vehicle, comprising: an articulating frame; a flexiblecover secured to the articulating frame, the flexible cover including anouter layer of flexible material and an inner layer of flexiblematerial; and a first conductor plate fabricated of a flexible material,the first conductor plate positioned between the outer layer of flexiblematerial and the inner layer of flexible material; a second conductorplate fabricated of a flexible material, the second conductor platepositioned between the outer layer of flexible material and the innerlayer of flexible material and electrically insulated from the firstconductor plate; and at least one layer of flexible, tear resistantmaterial positioned between the outer layer of flexible material and theinner layer of flexible material, wherein at least one of the firstconductor plate and the second conductor plate is electricallyconnectable to a power source and an alarm system such that upon anelectrical conducting implement piercing the first conductor plate andcontacting the second conductor plate an electrical connection isestablished between the first conductor plate and the second conductorplate thereby causing the alarm system to emit an alerting signal. 8.The cover assembly of claim 7 further comprising: a plurality of layersof flexible, tear resistant material positioned between the outer layerof flexible material and the inner layer of flexible material.
 9. Thecover assembly of claim 8 wherein each layer of flexible, tear resistantmaterial has a fabric pattern weave and wherein the fabric pattern weaveof each layer of flexible, tear resistant material is orientedapproximately ninety degrees relative to an adjacent layer of flexible,tear resistant material.